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Cividale del Friuli, Natisone river Cividale del Friuli, located in the territory of the Natisone valleys, close to the Slovenian border, is one of the most interesting and magical villages to visit in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia . Founded in the I century BC by Julius Caesar, it later became the first capital of the Lombard duchy in Italy and then Civitas Austriae with the Franks. Eventually, it saw the hegemony of the Patriarchate and then the Venetian dominion. This historical and cultural mix makes it a real jewel and walking along its streets is like taking a journey through time. Its most famous attraction is without any doubt, the Longobard temple , a World Heritage Site since 2011. It is a unique structure, a stone chapel built in the 1700s and used until 1893 as an oratory of the Monastery of Santa Maria in Valle.  The first glance is breathtaking: a tall and narrow chapel, topped by a stone arch decorated with openwork tracery and the large statues of saints and martyrs...

Friuli Venezia Giulia is a region that brings together very different populations and cultures that go far beyond the traditional dichotomy between Trieste and Udine .  This border region, still far from the flows of mass tourism offers nonetheless an infinite number of good reasons to be visited. From cities of art to nature, from typical gastronomic products to wine tourism, Friuli Venezia Giulia is the ideal place to practice slow and respectful tourism. Here is our suggested  14-days itinerary that should give you an idea of what to visit and how to organize your time in this beautiful region.  TRIESTE AND THE KARST - 3 DAYS Trieste Trieste , forced into a thin strip of land between the Adriatic Sea and the Karst, has the typicality of a border town with a Habsburg atmosphere that makes it seem suspended in time. The city offers many historical landmarks, starting with the iconic Piazza Unità d'Italia with its famous cafés and the Molo Audace and continuing with t...

Friuli-Venezia-Giulia , in the North-Eastern corner of Italy , is a border region with a turbulent past. Its cultural atmosphere has been strongly influenced by the various historical dominations that have finally created a melting pot of culture and traditions making it a very peculiar place. Thanks to its geo-morphological diversity, the region offers endless opportunities to visitors: a beautiful coastline, imposing mountains, a relaxing hilly countryside covered in vineyards and plenty of cities and small towns with an impressive historical heritage.  History buffs, foodies and wine lovers or those that like outdoor activities, will find plenty of opportunities to fulfill their interests. Nonetheless, for those that like less touristy destinations, this is a region that is still relatively out of the radar of the mass tourists. Here is our top 5 of places to visit in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia :     1. TRIESTE Home of the famous writers Svevo and Saba , Trieste is the e...

The cuisine of Friuli Venezia Giulia is the result of a gastronomic tradition strongly influenced by the foreign dominations that have characterized the history of this region over the centuries, and by its geographical characteristics. Friuli Venezia Giulia is, in fact, a territory that extends from the sea to the mountains, and the local culinary preparations offer a variety of dishes characterized by a strong connection to the territory.  Food market From a historical and traditional point of view, which also concerns gastronomy, the region can be somehow divided into two parts: the western part, occupied by Friuli , including the provinces of Pordenone, Udine and a part of that of Gorizia, and the eastern part of Venezia Giulia, that includes the rest of the province of Gorizia and Trieste . The Friulian cuisine is more rustic and simple with many soups, game, polenta and gnocchi, while the culinary traditions of the rest of the region involve more fish and show more of the ...

The surroundings of Gorizia , in Friuli Venezia Giulia , offer an enchanting and relaxing landscape of rolling hills dotted with wineries and cellars where the best Italian white wines in the world and full-bodied reds are produced: it is the Collio , which has its main center in Cormons .  Vineyards in the Collio Goriziano This area, geographically delimited by the Isonzo river and its tributary Iudrio, covers 150 square km divided between the province of Gorizia and Slovenia. Here, the location between mountains and sea creates a unique microclimate, in terms of ventilation and temperature range, that works perfectly with the characteristic terrain of the Collio (called ponca ), made up of stratified marl and sandstone, ideal for growing grapes.  This is white wine land where the local  Ribolla Gialla , Malvasia Istriana ,  Friulano  and Picolit grow side by side with the international Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to create whites that are amon...

Aquileia is an ancient Friulian village, located on the road that connects the lagoon town of Grado to Cervignano del Friuli. It is one of the most important historic villages in the region and its artistic and archaeological value is among the most important in Italy , so much so that in 1998 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Capitoline Wolf , Aquileia Founded by the Romans as a colony in 181 BC, it was the capital of the 10th Augustan region and metropolis of the Christian church. Together with Ravenna and Brescia it is the most important archaeological site in northern Italy, and with Cividale del Friuli and Udine it was one of the historic capitals of Friuli . Aquileia, bell tower The most important landmark in Aquileia is the majestic and solemn Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta also called di Poppone since the church was rebuilt between 1021 and 1031 under the patriarch Poppone, a period in which the 73 meters high bell tower was also erected.  Basilica of Sa...

  Grado, Island of the Sun Grado is a small lagoon town in Friuli Venezia Giulia in the province of Gorizia. Connected to the mainland by a thin strip of land, it is a famous tourist and spa resort also known as the Island of the Sun. It is seen as a miniature Venice, full of narrow streets and houses close to each other; one of those towns to calmly explore in a day. Founded in Roman times as a merchant port of Aquileia , Grado owes its name to the typical Roman steps that facilitated the disembarkation of passengers and goods from ships. Always a center of large commercial activities, its castrum was built in the 4th century, where the inland populations who escaped the onslaught of the barbarians found refuge.  The Patriarch himself moved its headquarters from Venice to the lagoon city which he embellished with buildings of worship and with the construction of the Duomo. The return of the Patriarchate to Venice in 1451 meant the beginning of difficult years for the island...